What Kate McKinnon’s Dinner With Hillary Clinton Was Really Like

Playing Hillary Clinton has been pretty life-changing for SNL’s Kate McKinnon, the funnywoman said backstage at the Emmys on Sunday, following her win for the role. “It’s been the greatest honor of my life and the greatest role I’ve gotten to play,” she told reporters. “I’m a great admirer of hers and I hope that it’s mutual, I think that it is.”

Fortunately, McKinnon didn’t have to completely invent her portrayal of Clinton, because not only did Clinton come and play a bartender on the show, but she also had McKinnon over for dinner, so the pair had a chance to get to know each other for real. So what was that dinner actually like? “It was very surreal and wonderful, and she was warm and gracious as always, and I ate too much,” McKinnon said.

While Clinton may not have attended the Emmys to see McKinnon win the award, another former White House staff member was there: Sean Spicer. “I enjoyed seeing him again,” McKinnon said diplomatically. Asked what she thought the President would think of her portrayal, she raised her eyebrows and added simply, “I do not know.”

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